Sailing, Yacht Charter and Beyond

Onboard House Rules

Since there are more and more first-timers coming to sailing yachts, I felt like writing some sort of a step-by-step guide about behaviour and rules on board. Many of them who come to a sailing boat are amazed by comfort that newly made yachts may provide, but it is wrong to consider it a floating hotel. Exactly the opposite! We all have to change our everyday behaviour and adjust it to what we call – life at sea.

Let’s start with the arrival to a yacht charter base. It is considered polite and caring that only one person (usually the skipper – the one who possess skipper’s license) comes to the office to do the paperwork. Yacht charter offices at the marinas are usually not spacious enough to accommodate all the crew. The most of the paperwork is done by a responsible person – either one with the license or one who has paid the trip. In most cases, it is the same person. Other crew members are usually directed to the first bar for refreshment or to the nearest supermarket for supplies.

Once the paperwork is done, it is most practical that the same person does technical check-in with charter staff (also called a skipper or a mariner) aboard a chartered yacht. After a technical check-in, the rest of the crew is good to embark, load the luggage and accommodate. This is a good time for a skipper to explain the others the dos and don’ts. Basically, it is about onboard safety and a few tricks and tips how to make the stay on the yacht more comfortable and fun.

First of all, every crew member has to know where to find and how to use life vests. Many people bring their own personal life vests, so fire protection rules can be explained first. All crew should know where fire extinguishers are positioned and how to use them. It is worth explaining how gas installation functions, along with positions of safety gas valves and galley stove and oven.

Next remark has not much to do with safety, but is absolutely as important. It is the procedure about flushing the toilet. Boat toilets are specific not only for their (small) size, but also for their flushing system. Most of them use a manual pump which brings the water into the toilet and pumps out feces after natural needs are done. The detailed guide about on-board toilets will be published in one of the next blog posts, but some rules never change.

Take toilet flushing very seriously and do it carefully and thoroughly. If your sailing yacht is not equipped with a waste tank, try not to use the toilet while someone is swimming around the boat or when moored at the marina. Also, you should not unload it unless you are at an open sea. Basically, the only material that is allowed at onboard toilets is food processed by your body and toilet paper. All other items lead to a clogged toilet and you being in a big and unpleasant trouble. Electric flushing toilets cannot flush toilet paper, so one should be even more careful when using them. Let’s get out of the toilet and walk the rest of the boat.

Keep in mind that a boat can get very rocky in a moment, so it is important that at least one of your hands holds something solid in order to keep the balance and avoid injuries. There is rigging and life-lines on the deck and railings on the inside of the boat. Store the luggage and especially kitchen items in a way that they do not fall when the boat is rocking. It is also important to hold your cup or glass in your hand when drinking on board. Even if the boat is safely anchored at the calm bay, only two waves brought by the boat passing by could be enough to break the glass of wine left on the edge of the table. Generally, always try to avoid any damage (of the boat or the inventory) and/or injury.

When mentioning anchoring in a calm bay – it is considered impolite to anchor too close to other boats. Keep safety distance and try not to disturb your neighbors. They want to enjoy the calmness as much as you, so try not to be too loud. The same rule applies for overnight stays at the marinas. In order to extend your stay at sea without unnecessary dockings at ports or marinas, it is important to spend your water supplies responsibly and efficiently. Reduce the number of showering and try to spend as less water as possible by doing it. The same applies for doing the dishes, and the same principle should be followed about the electric power. If not plugged to the chore power source, the entire boat’s electric installation relies on the batteries. They are being recharged when running the engine, so be gentle with electric consumption.

Last but not least, try to think one step ahead. That means that whatever you do or decide to do, you must be aware of the consequences of your actions – from pulling the ropes and opening jammers to route planning. We should emphasize that checking weather forecast several times a day is crucial for pleasant and safe sailing trip. Although you are vacationing, you have to be focused on what you are doing – that’s life at sea.

I wish you calm seas, fair winds and a strong mast!

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Janko is a professional skipper in love with writing. Our most prolific blogger, he has sailed the Adriatic from the north to the south. With an incredibly broad array of interests, Janko is an expert in a variety of topics, all of which he delivers to our readers in a clear, imaginative and often humorous manner.